Photosynthesis:
Food, energy, and respiration of plants
By: Matt Rhidenour
Introduction to photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process of how plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy for themselves. During this process a plant releases oxygen into the environment in which humans and animals can use to breathe. This creates a symbiotic relationship between plants and animals because animals release carbon dioxide into the air when we breathe. This cycle helps both plants and animals to assist one another to live on our planet. The definition of photosynthesis is a process in plants that convert solar energy into chemical energy for the plant to use. All these elements must be present in order for photosynthesis to occur.
Primarily photosynthesis occurs in the leaves of plants, but it can also happen in stems, flowers, and fruits of plants. Plants use a pigment in them called chlorophyll to capture the sunlight used in photosynthesis.
Chemical equation of photosynthesis
When photosynthesis takes place in a plant cell a chemical reaction occurs. This chemical reaction is what creates the necessary energy for a plant to survive. The leaves of the plant capture sunlight, the plant uses carbon dioxide and water, and all of these elements combined with chlorophyll a reaction takes place that converts all those ingredients into glucose. Glucose is what the plant uses for food and energy to grow and sustain life in the plant itself. This equation is displayed scientifically as 6CO2 + 6H2O ==> C6H12O6 + 6O2. As the equation illustrates the reaction needs six parts carbon dioxide, six parts water to yield glucose and six parts oxygen for photosynthesis to take place in a plant cell.
Factors that affect photosynthesis
Photosynthesis needs many environmental aspects to work correctly and underlying factors can prohibit photosynthesis from working as efficiently as it should. These factors include temperature, water availability, soil nutrients, and carbon dioxide concentration. These ingredients all play a vital role for a plant to undergo the process of photosynthesis. If any of these factors are more or less than a plant needs to complete photosynthesis then the plants ability to produce energy is compromised. Sometimes a plant being compromised in it's production of energy is minimal and sometimes it's fatal.
Photosynthesis: What it means to us
Photosynthesis to us as humans means simply the ability to breathe and live. Without plants we would not have a regular supply of oxygen released into the air and would eventually run out of oxygen for us to use. Through the process of photosynthesis we are able to live on our planet and co-habitate with plants in our world. Without them we would surely die and in turn without us they would not be able to survive either. Therefore we live together and support each other as we flourish on our planet Earth.
Works cited
Facts & information
Mark McGinley, Debbie Swarthout (Lead Author);Daniel Robert Taub (Topic Editor) "Photosynthesis". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 3, 2010; Last revised Date November 11, 2011; Retrieved March 15, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Photosynthesis>
Diagrams & photos
http://teachers.moed.bm/leone.samuels/Important%20Diagrams/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=16